Automatic fan.



N0 MODEL.

PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903.

w. H. VANFOSSEN,

AUTOMATIC PAN. APPLICATION FILED we. 24. 1903.

Inventor W E V4 1 0550,

Attorney Patented November 24, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. VANFOSSEN, OF EUREKA, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC FAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,267, dated November 24, 1903.

Application filed August 24, 1903. Serial No. 170,552. (No model.)

To whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LWILLIAM H.VANFOSSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eureka, in the county of Woodford and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fans; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to automatic fans, and

more particularly to a fan operated by a pen-- dulum which is kept in motion by means of a spring-motor.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of this character which will be simple in construction, durable in use, very efficient in operation, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With this and other objects in View the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved automatic fan. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings by numeral, 1 denotes the casing of a spring-motor which is provided with a winding-shaft 2, having a polygonal outer end 3, drive or power shaft 4, to the front end of which is secured a crank 5, having a pitman 6 pivotally connected to its outer end. A coil-spring 7 adjustably connects said pitman to the upper end of a pendulum 8, which is pivoted intermediate its ends in bearings 9, secured upon the outer side of said casing 1. Said pendulum is provided at its lower end with a sliding adjustable weight 10, which is secured in position by a sot-screw or other fastening device 11. Fixed adjacent to the upper end of the pendulum is a bow 12, to each end of which is secured one end of a strap or other flexible connection 13. The opposite ends of said straps 13 are wound once in opposite directions around a drum 14 and are then secured to the Said drum is fixed upon a fan-shaft same.

15, which is journaled in a bracket 16, attached to the casing 1. Upon the outer end of the shaft 15 is a clamp 17, in which one or more fan-blades 18 are secured. Saidfam bla'des may be constructed of aluminium, wood, cloth, or any suitable material and are adapted to swing back and forth through three-quarters of a revolution of the shaft 15.

In the operation of the device the casing l is. usually suspended, by means of a loopor hanger 19, upon a nail or hook secured in a wall above a bed, desk, table, or in any desired place where it is desired to use the fan. The spring-motor is then wound by placing a crank-handle or key, with a polygonal socket, on the similar-shaped end 3 of the windingshaft 2 and turning the same. The pendulum Sis then set in motion, and its weight 10 will give it steady stroke, which may be regulated by adjusting the same up or down, as is well known. The springmotor, acting through the crank 5, the pitman 6, and the spring 7, will keep the pendulum in motion, as will be readily understood. The spring connection 7between the pitman and pendulum will allow for all irregularities in the stroke of the pendulum. The movement of the pendulum will swing the bow 12 back and forth, thus causing the straps 13 to wind and unwind alternately upon the drum 14 and rotate the same first in one direction and then in the reverse direction. This drum is given about three-quarters of a revolution in each direction, and will hence swing the fan-blades 18 alternately in each direction through a similar portion of a revolution.

While a spring-motor is best adapted to drive the shaft 2, and thus keep the pendulum in motion, it will be understood that any desired form of motor may be used.

Various other changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

the construction, mode of operation, and the advantages of the invention will be readily understood without requiringa more extended explanation.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an automatic fan, the combination of a fan, a pendulum adapted to operate said fan, a drive-shaft and a yielding connection between said drive-shaft and said pendulum, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic fan, the combination of an oscillatory fan, a pendulum for oscillating said fan, a drive-shaft, means for driving said shaft, and a yielding drive connection between said shaft and said pendulum, substantially as described.

3. In an automatic-fan, the combination of an oscillatory fan-shaft, a pendulum, a bow carried by said pendulum, yielding connections between said bow and said fan-shaft whereby said shaft is oscillated when the pendulum is in motion, a drive-shaft, and a yielding driving connection between said driveshaft and said pendulum, substantially as described.

4. In an automatic fan, the combination of an oscillatory fan-shaft, a pendulum, a bow carried by said pendulum, yielding connections between said bow and said fan-shaft whereby said shaft is oscillated when the pendulum is in motion, a drive-shaft, a crank upon the same, a pitman connected to said crank, and a spring connection between said pitman and said pendulum, substantially as described.

5. In an automatic fan, the combination of a fan, a pendulum for operating the same, a spring-motor having a drive-shaft, a crank upon said drive-shaft, a pitman carried by said crank, and a spring connection between said pitman and said pendulum, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. VANFOSSEN.

Witnesses:

A. V. S. BAIRD, B. D. MEEK. 

